The New England Patriots may get an important offensive contributor back sooner than expected. Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, who suffered a foot injury in Week 9, has returned to practice and could be available for the Patriots’ Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions in Berlin.
Stevenson was initially expected to miss multiple weeks after sustaining the injury. His participation in practice on Wednesday and Thursday offers a more encouraging outlook, although he was limited on both days. His status for the game remains uncertain, and New England’s plans could depend on how his foot responds as the week progresses.
## Stevenson’s Role in the Patriots’ Backfield
A fourth-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, Stevenson made an early impression during his rookie season with New England. He shared backfield work with Damien Harris and finished the campaign with 606 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 133 carries.
Stevenson took on a larger role in 2022, earning the Patriots’ full-time starting job. He delivered the most productive season of his career, rushing for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns on 210 attempts. Since then, he has remained the team’s primary running back and continued to build his place among the Patriots’ statistical leaders.
His potential return would give New England another option in the running game, particularly at a time when injuries have affected the roster across several positions. Still, being limited in practice does not guarantee that Stevenson will play, and the Patriots may need to prepare for the possibility that he is unavailable or cannot handle his usual workload.
## Patriots’ Injury Challenges
The Stevenson update comes during a difficult stretch for New England. The team has dealt with injuries to its top two receivers, its backup running back, and multiple starting offensive linemen at different points this season. Those absences have affected several areas of the offense, making Stevenson’s potential availability especially relevant.
If Stevenson cannot play—or is restricted to a limited role—the Patriots are expected to rely on Corey Kiner in the backfield. Kiner has stepped into a reserve role this season and recorded 244 rushing yards and one touchdown on 50 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per attempt.
Kiner’s production gives New England an option behind Stevenson, but the team’s backfield plans will depend on Stevenson’s health and the role he can handle. A limited practice week could mean the Patriots continue to evaluate him before making a decision about his game-day status.
## What Stevenson’s Practice Status Means for Week 10
Stevenson’s return to the practice field is a positive development after a foot injury that appeared likely to keep him out for several weeks. However, his limited participation on Wednesday and Thursday leaves open questions about whether he will be cleared to play against Detroit and, if so, how much work he will receive.
The Patriots will need to weigh the value of having their primary running back available against the risk of asking him to take on too much while managing an injury. Until his status is confirmed, Kiner remains an important contingency option for New England.
A possible trade for another running back has also been mentioned, including the possibility of pursuing Jonathan Taylor. No such move had taken place at the time of this update, so the Patriots’ immediate plans remain centered on the players already on the roster.
For now, Stevenson’s practice participation gives New England reason for cautious optimism. His availability could strengthen the Patriots’ backfield, but the team’s final decision will depend on his progress and readiness for Week 10.
